Re: [hobbicast] Re: Damp molds ( observation and question)

Hey there, folks- We re all freinds on this list, more or less. The vitriole on this matter is unneccessary. Everyone has their own level of safety

Message 1 of 27
, Mar 13 9:26 AM

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Hey there, folks-
We're all freinds on this list, more or less. The vitriole on this matter is unneccessary. Everyone has their own level of safety comfort. As George Carlin once said "Anyone who drives slower than me is an a**hole; Anyone who drives faster is a maniac." To my mind, this falls in that category.
That said, whenever I teach metalcasting to newbies, from pewter to bronze, I always stress a quote I picked up from one of these lists, maybe this one: Handling molten metal is like playing with a thimble full of hell. If you keep that thought in mind in all you do, you can reduce the chance of being bitten by it to its minimum.
Just my 2 cents, take it for what it's worth. Come to think of it, 2 cents isn't worth much anymore, is it.

Yvan Wolvesbane
Pacifist ...with occasional lapses.

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Glenn N

I had a rather exciting incident trying to pour aluminum into paper towel tubes to make round bar for the lathe. It was just plain sand that got a bit of

Message 2 of 27
, Mar 13 9:41 AM

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I had a rather exciting incident trying to pour aluminum into paper towel
tubes to make round bar for the lathe. It was just plain sand that got a
bit of moisture in it sitting out over night. I stuffed the tube in and
poured sand around it. When I poured the aluminum in it made a nice poof
and blew sand and molten aluminum out of the hole. It burned holes in my
leathers and made me do a dance, but I wouldn't exactly call it an
explosion. No bang, no shock wave felt. Pyroclastic even for sure but not
an explosion.
Did I say it scared the shit out of me?? ;)

Nelson that's not even close to what we're talking about. Pouring metal into
water has been done since before you were born.
We're talking about a closed mold that has excess water in the sand. In the
case I was refering to was an over wet drag, in just one area. the mold is
pour fast and the moist sand covered quickly enough to not allow the steam
to escape the mold fast enough to prevent the mold from exploding.
With that in mind, is why I make only the molds I'm going to pour that day.

Jeshua, I have to agree with you. I have only seen one steam explosion
during the time I worked for at a local foundry. luckly no one was hurt, as
all were wearing safety equipment.
Water enter the mold from a leak in the roof, dropped into a riser so no one
knew it soaked the sand. The mold did blow sand and aluminum out of the mold
far enough to destroy other molds and could have hurt those nearby, not by
the explosion but by liquid metal falling all around.

> Well I can say I am no newbie. I've cast more years than you wiped your
> own nose. I have had too wet sand and the danger is the metal spilling out
> of the mold and blow holes where the gas from the excessive water could
> not fill because of steam. NO it is not a dangerous. Some of you all get a
> little bit of knowledge and think you know it all. This group is not what
> it was years ago. Wonk what keep you around?

How do you know you have cast more years than I have wiped my nose? I am no
newbie either. I too have poured on wet sand.

But yeah water and molten metal are totally safe. No possibility of
explosions. No one has ever been maimed or killed or anything. No need to be
cautious.

Get real.

The reason why you have been able to pour on wet sand is because the a. sand
helps, and b. there must have not been enough pressure built up. Confine
some steam and you have serious danger.